by crossriverwatch admin
The names of Dr. Sandy Onor and Engineer Effiong Bassey are conspicuously missing on the list of Cross River State Executive Council members recalled by Senator Liyel Imoke, following their suspension in December 2013.
Governor Imoke in an announcement on the state media, Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, CRBC, on Wednesday morning asked the suspended exco members to resume duties immediately.
The governor however did not include the names of Dr. Sandy Onor the Commissioner for Environment and Effiong Bassey, the Special Adviser on Mineral Resources on the list he read which apparently means they have been dropped from his Executive Council.
When contacted on phone, Dr. Onor said he had not resigned his appointment and clarifications on why his name is missing on the list of those recalled should be with the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita.
Mr. Ita simply told CrossRiverWatch that “the status of those whose names are not on the list means they are still suspended”.
But a reliable source in Onor’s camp told CrossRiverWatch that the Commissioner was been fired because of his support for the governorship ambition of Mr. Goddy Jedy Agba, the Group General Manager, GGM, Crude Oil Marketing Department of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
“Dr. Onor has always been considered independent minded and somewhat rebellious by the administration goons. You remember he was supposed to run as governor against Imoke on the defunct ACN before he was made DG of Imoke Campaign Group after the annulment of Imoke’s election by the Appeal Court and later commissioner.
“He has also indicated interest in and support for the aspiration of Goddy Jedy Agba to be governor of the State in 2015 and the governor is not quite happy about that. The governor says as a serving commissioner, he should not be going about it openly while he is still in government but the truth is that the governor’s heart in terms of who succeeds him lies elsewhere and it is likely that more casualties will come as the months draw nearer to the election but for us, we take this in good strides and consider it a very good move that clears the path for the next line of action.” The source said.
Also confirming the strained relationship between the duo, another reliable source in the Governor’s office who prefers anonymity told CrossRiverWatch that it is wrong for a serving commissioner to go against his boss’ directive and openly show support for any governorship aspirant when the boss has given clear instructions that no one should do that.
“If your boss has given instructions that no one should as a serving member of exco show support for any of the aspirants and any of the subordinates disobey that directive, what do you expect the boss to do?
“The governor has made it clear that he will not anoint a successor. It follows then that no serving member of the government should make it look like the governor is already supporting any of the candidates.”
It will be recalled that on Monday 2nd December, 2013, Senator Imoke suspended seven commissioners and thirteen special advisers for failing to participate in activities marking the World’s AIDS Day celebration on the 1st of December, 2013.
Those affected were Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Attah Ochinke; Commissioner for Finance, Etim Caifas; Commissioner for Social Development, Mrs. Patricia Endeley; Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Sandy Onor; Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Elemi Etowa.
While Special Advisers suspended included Mr. Wilfred Usani [Tourism Development; Eyo Okpo-Ene [Religious Affairs]; Fabian Okpa [Special Duties]; Gerald Adah [Investment Promotion]; Effiong Bassey [Mineral Resources]; Fred Osim [Political and Legislative Affairs] and Mark Obi [Legal Adviser].
Others are Francisca Nkoyo Effiom [Debt Management]; Mrs Johnson Ebokpo [NGOs]; Odo Effiong [Information and Telecommunication Technology]; Prof. Temple Edim [Strategic Planning and Development; Eja Dons [Projects Monitoring and Evaluation] and Ntufam Odo Oji [Forestry and Biodiversity].
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